Living in North Carolina has so many perks – like our amazing state parks! Get active and explore these Top 5 North Carolina Parks this summer. North Carolina State Parks challenges you to hike, walk, bike, run, swim, paddle or roll 100 miles on our state’s trails and waterways before the end of 2017. Sign up today for the NC 100 Miles Challenge if you need an extra incentive to visit all these amazing parks. 1. William B. Umstead State Park Divided into two sections, Crabtree Creek and Reedy Creek, this 5,579-acre park is easily accessible from Interstate 40 and US 70 with 5,000 acres of gorgeous scenery waiting to be explored. There are more than 32 miles of hiking, …[ MORE ]

Recently, our local news stations have made me aware of the devastating lingering effects of Hurricane Matthew across our state and I wanted to share this with you all. We didn’t even lose power at my house, but almost a million customers across our state did, and thousands are still waiting for theirs to come back on. Serious flooding is affecting many highways, roads and cities. Fayetteville, Goldsboro and so many other areas are under water – 39 counties are still under alert for flooding that isn’t expected to peak until Friday. Farmers are experiencing catastrophic losses to their homes and crops. They are unable to use tractors with all the water, so they are desperately trying to salvage what …[ MORE ]

As summer approaches and the sun warms us up, people will start planning their summer vacations. Tourism can have a big impact on a region not only financially, but also environmentally, so it is important to be mindful when planning your next vacation. Ecotourism within our state is booming and there are all sorts of options of ways to relax, learn, explore, and have fun, while stimulating the local economy and minimizing negative environmental impacts. The International Ecotourism Society defines ecotourism as “responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people.” The principles of ecotourism are: · Minimize impact · Build environmental and cultural awareness and respect · Provide positive experiences for both visitors and hosts · Provide direct …[ MORE ]

One of the wonderful things about living in beautiful (and sometimes icy) North Carolina is that residents all across the state have access to tremendous cultural and educational centers through its colleges and universities. Many institutes of higher education are asking serious questions about our energy future and are hosting events that look at current environmental issues and innovative solutions. Universities in the Research Triangle area have several events coming up within the next few months that are sure to inspire and further the discussion about North Carolina’s renewable energy future and environmental concerns. At the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the UNC Institute for the Environment will be highlighting environmental and resource management issues. For a full …[ MORE ]